you are. But we’re happy to do this. It’s a write-off, you know?”
I sighed. “Look. I’m not complaining, but you’re making this too easy on me. I’m beginning to feel like a charity case.”
Joe shook his head, and the emotion in his brown eyes was almost…hurt. “None of us think of you that way. We’ve been through this.”
“I know, but—”
“No buts. You accepted the offer. We need you, and if we can make the change easier on you in the process, we want to do it.”
I opened my mouth to respond when my phone buzzed. I looked down. Shit. Ted Morse again.
“Do you need to take that?” Joe asked.
“I’m not taking it. It’s Ted Morse.”
“Colin’s dad?” Joe furrowed his brow. “Fucking bastard.”
“Jonah,” Melanie admonished. “This is a nice place.”
“Sorry. But you know what I think of that asshole.”
“Jonah!”
“He’s right,” I agreed. “The guy tried to have him framed.”
“I get it,” she said. “I don’t disagree. Trust me.”
“What the hell does he want?”
Melanie just rolled her eyes, apparently tired of arguing about language in a rather quiet upscale restaurant.
“He called me this morning. Said he had information for me and wanted to meet.”
“And you said…”
“Hell, no. Sorry, Melanie.”
“It’s okay. I give up,” she said.
“I told him to give it to me over the phone, but he said the FBI might have tapped us.”
“The FBI? The case is settled.”
“That’s what I told him. Then I hung up.”
Joe shook his head. “He’s looking for a payoff. The guy’s a mercenary if I ever met one.”
“Then why call me? I don’t have anything.”
“Maybe he got wind of our offer.”
“How would he be able to do that?”
“I have no idea, but I think I’ll have those PIs, Mills and Johnson, check out our houses just in case. They’re expensive but worth every penny. They can check your place too.”
“You don’t need to. Especially if we’re moving.”
“Why don’t you just meet with him?” Melanie asked.
“Because he’s just looking for cash,” Joe said.
“You’re most likely right,” she said, “but what if he actually has some information? Couldn’t he ask for cash over the phone?”
“Good point,” Bryce said, “and he’s got to know I don’t have any money.”
“I don’t buy it,” Joe said. “He’s up to something.”
“If he is,” Melanie said, “don’t you think it’s better that we know exactly what he’s up to? You and Bryce could meet him together. Take Rosie with you.”
I laughed. Rosie was Joe’s Glock 23 that was almost always strapped to his ankle.
“Not a bad idea, actually,” I said. “My first instinct was to ignore him, but I have to admit I’m curious.”
“I don’t trust the man,” Joe said.
“I know that. With good reason.” I took a sip of my bourbon. “I don’t trust him either, but if he’s right, and the Feds are still watching all of us, we need to know why.”
“He’s bluffing,” Joe said.
“Then let’s call him on it,” I said.
Before Joe could answer, the server popped by to take our dessert and coffee orders. Once we’d ordered, I said, “Excuse me for a minute. I’ll go out into the lobby and return his call. I’ll see if I can get anything out of him.”
“You sure?” Joe asked.
“Yeah. Your lovely wife convinced me.” I smiled and stood.
Once I found a quiet corner in the lobby, I returned the call.
“Ted Morse.”
“Bryce Simpson returning your call,” I said curtly.
“Change your mind about meeting me?”
“I did. Tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.”
“Let’s get one thing straight. I’ll be talking to you and only you. Don’t bring any brawn with you.”
I was a little offended. He didn’t consider me brawn? I could take him out with a look. “Brawn? You mean the Steels?”
“Those three are animals.”
“Jonah Steel is an animal who could have had you arrested for extortion,” I reminded him.
“You think that scares me? I have the best attorneys in the business.”
“And you think the Steels don’t?” This guy was a trip. He might be worth millions, but the Steels had passed a billion.
No response.
“You’re well off. Why you thought it was a good idea to try to blackmail the Steels is beyond me.”
“They hurt my son.”
“Talon gave him an ass whooping.”
“For trying to see his fiancée.”
“His ex-fiancée,” I reminded Ted. Words lodged in my throat. That was nothing compared to what my father did to him. I didn’t say it. I couldn’t. But it was true. So very true.
“You know what I think, Ted?” I said. “I think you blame me for what my father did to Colin.